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Emirati teenager's seatbelt safety  invention wins police recognition

Abu Dhabi: An Emirati teenager's intellect and concern for society beyond his years has gained him recognition from Abu Dhabi Police.

Khalid Mohammad Ali Al Shemmari, 18, got a pat on the back from senior police officials for a device invented by him that makes it impossible for a vehicle to move unless the driver fastens the seatbelt. He was awarded a certificate of merit by the police at their headquarters last week.

Based on official directives the police are soon to try out the device in their fleet of vehicles, Al Shemmari said. And if all goes well it might be made compulsory in all UAE vehicles, he said.

"My elder brother met with an accident and suffered a head injury because he wasn't wearing his seatbelt. This incident got me thinking ... it led to the invention.

"Unless the driver fastens his seatbelt, the gear will not move and this way the driver will be forced to use the belt in order to travel, once the device is installed."

According to him, failure to fasten seatbelts is common and a major cause of accidents. Officials could not agree more with Al Shemmari's observation.

Last year alone, 430 people died of road accident injuries in Abu Dhabi which means that 69 per cent of all fatalities caused by injuries were due to road accidents.

Moreover, road accident deaths accounted for 15 per cent of all deaths in the emirate, Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD) figures reveal. HAAD named failure to use seatbelts as one of the major risk factors impacting the severity of injuries in accidents and urged drivers to use seatbelts as it can reduce road deaths by up to 60 per cent.

Al Shemmari's contribution to help authorities enforce the seatbelt rule, however, faced some clashes of interest - not all of his peers are happy with his invention.

"A few of my friends hate me now ... they called and shouted at me after they found out about the device. They said that if officials make it compulsory on all vehicles they will be forced to strap up."

A resident of Al Ain, Al Shemmari is a Grade 12 student at Khalifa Bin Zayed High School. His sole support and encouragement was his teacher who helped him attain his goal, he says.

"When I received a call from the police I was shocked! Until this award, I felt no one cared about it."

He added that the appreciation will encourage his fellow students to think up similar devices.

Major General Mohammad Bin Al Awadi Al Menhali, acting Director-General of Police Operations at Abu Dhabi Police, awarded the certificate to Al Shemmari "for his invaluable contribution to traffic safety".

Al Menhali thanked the teenager for his creativity, his sense of responsibility towards the community and for using his talents to benefit all members of society.

How careful are you when it comes to the driver and passengers in a car wearing seatbelts? Would you call yourself a safe driver? Why or Why not?